Sending your article

Torigian sent a letter to Peabody voters in the mail today, the campaign said.

“Today Peabody needs a strong leader who will be able to make the difficult decisions while balancing the needs of all its residents,” she said in a statement. “Peabody needs a leader who will promote pride in Peabody and create a new excitement by bringing people together to accomplish common goals.

“Peabody needs a leader who will continue the long history of fiscal responsibility with high levels of community service. For me, that person is Ted Bettencourt. Ted is capable, qualified and ready to lead our great city. Please join me on election day, Nov. 8, to support Ted Bettencourt for Mayor.”

Torigian's husband served as Peabody mayor for two decades.

“Peter worked tirelessly to make Peabody the envy of the North Shore and gained recognition as one of the state’s best mayors,” she said. “To Peter, being mayor was the greatest job on earth. He loved the challenge of being the city’s chief executive and also its biggest cheerleader.”

Bettencourt noted that Torigian, like him, never worked in a city hall or town hall before running for mayor. Bettencourt’s opponent, Sean Fitzgerald, was outgoing Mayor Michael Bonfanti’s chief of staff and has been a town manager for the past three years.

“I truly appreciate this vote of confidence and support I have received from the Torigian family.” Bettencourt said in a statement. ”When I was a kid, there was a mayor named Peter Torigian who inspired me and everyone else with a feeling of pride in Peabody. He brought our city together, young and old from every neighborhood, to work together as a community. We had good reason to be proud and still do. I never lost that Peabody pride.”